Sustainable Ranching Initiative Specialist

Company Description

Founded in 1961, WWF works to help people and nature thrive. As a global conservation organization, WWF operates in more than 100 countries, partnering with communities, companies, and governments to protect wildlife, conserve vital habitats, and advance sustainable solutions. Grounded in science and driven by collaboration, WWF works to help nature by conserving biodiversity, supporting resilient communities, and addressing climate change. Nearly 1 million people in the United States and more than 5 million globally are WWF members.

Job Description

Major Function  

World Wildlife Fund (WWF), one of the world's leading conservation organizations, seeks a Specialist for the Sustainable Ranching Initiative, based out of Montana.  The Specialist provides technical expertise to develop, prioritize, and coordinate private-land conservation projects for WWF's Sustainable Ranching Initiative (SRI). The Specialist will manage and grow relationships with ranchers, rancher-led collaboratives and agricultural communities, being the primary point of contact for SRI in the region of southeastern Montana, northeastern Wyoming, and western South Dakota. The Specialist will also assist with fundraising proposals, individual project management, event coordination, and communications.  

Please note: Although this is a remote eligible position, preference is given to candidates located in Eastern Montana.

Key Responsibilities 

• Implement conservation programs designed to restore and protect grasslands and assist ranchers and local collaboratives in pursuing their land-management goals. 
• Conduct outreach with landowners and land managers in southeastern Montana, western South Dakota, and northeastern Wyoming to inform them of WWF programs and identify participants who may be a good fit for WWF's programs. 
• Act as a primary organizational contact with ranches in the areas listed above by building relationships to better understand individual needs and assessing opportunities to pursue additional resources for ranch sustainability. 
• Build and maintain relationships with local and regional ranching partner organizations and government agencies like Winnett ACES, Eastern Montana Regenerative Agriculture, BLM, NRCS, USFWS, and others. Assist local collaboratives by providing technical assistance, support in fundraising and project evaluation efforts, and offering expertise and guidance to partner-driven strategic planning efforts. 
• Support the SRI team with strategic planning for landscape-level grassland conservation, partner engagement, program communication, public and stakeholder education, technology transfer, metric evaluation and reporting, and other relevant topics. 
• Communicate results to local and regional audiences through a variety of channels including public speaking and published writings and provide perspective and technical insights to the SRI team as needed/requested. In coordination with the SRI team, assist in fundraising, including providing content for proposals and reporting on progress. 
• Other responsibilities, as needed and assigned. 

Qualifications

Key Competencies 

• Interpersonal and communication: Communicates effectively with other people, both internally amongst SRI and WWF colleagues, and externally to funders, ranchers, organizational partners, and the public; adapts communication style to the appropriate audience, and understands the value of different communication and behavioral styles. 

• Field presence and on-the-ground engagement: Prioritizes time in the field with ranchers, collaboratives, and partners; is credible and effective on working ranches and at field days, community meetings, and project sites; uses direct observation of land and operations to inform project design, prioritization, and technical recommendations; sustains an extensive seasonal travel schedule and works self-sufficiently in remote settings with limited support. 

• Independence and initiative: Thinks proactively about how to advance both personal workplan and the strategic plans of the SRI and GP teams; pursues and manages workstreams independently of external input when appropriate; adapts to situations where making progress demands both independent and team-based strategies, and understands the strengths and weaknesses of both approaches. 

• Collaboration and inclusion: Fosters a culture of collaboration both internally with WWF and SRI colleagues, and externally with ranching and organizational partners. 

• Time management and accountability: Establishes and re-evaluates work plan and short-term goals proactively; thinks adaptively about personal and organizational workload and delegation amongst colleagues; implements measures to consistently track and managed multiple workstreams and tasks simultaneously and over long periods of time.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in natural resources management, environmental science, conservation policy, or a related field. A graduate degree with relevant applied experience may substitute for some years of experience.
• At least 5 years of experience in range management, biodiversity conservation, or natural resources management.
• Experience working with ranchers and agricultural communities.
• Knowledge of the Northern Great Plains, particularly Montana or Wyoming.
• Strong data management, organizational, and project management skills.
• Sound judgment and innovative problem-solving abilities.
• Demonstrated technical writing skills.
• Ability to travel throughout eastern Montana, western South Dakota, and eastern Wyoming, up to 50% during spring, summer, and fall and 25% during winter.
• Identifies and aligns with WWF’s core values:
  • COURAGE – We demonstrate courage through our actions, we work for change where it’s needed, and we inspire people and institutions to tackle the greatest threats to nature and the future of the planet, which is our home.
  • INTEGRITY – We live the principles we call on others to meet. We act with integrity, accountability and transparency, and we rely on facts and science to guide us and to ensure that we learn and evolve.
  • RESPECT – We honor the voices and knowledge of people and communities that we serve, and we work to secure their rights to a sustainable future.
  • COLLABORATION – We deliver impact at the scale of the challenges we face through the power of collective action and innovation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with Native Nations, particularly in agricultural production.
• Experience collaborating with organizations and agencies in the Northern Great Plains.
• Experience coordinating ranch assistance programs, educational events, or conservation and restoration projects.
• Experience in fundraising, grant management, or project budget management.

Additional Information

Please Note: This is a 3-year Limited Term Position,

Please note: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.  

Relocation is not provided for this position.

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) promotes equal employment opportunities for all qualified individuals regardless of age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.